LOS ANGELES — The most popular question in the NBA? How do you stop the Golden State Warriors, the super team of all super teams, from winning the title?
The most popular answer? Build your own super team, somehow conjuring an equitable amount of firepower in the NBA arms race.
Nikola Jokic has a different theory. The Denver Nuggets' 23-year-old big man was named the Western Conference player of the week to open the season and averaged 23.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game heading into Thursday night’s clash with the Los Angeles Lakers.
His exploits helped Denver to a 4-0 start and while the campaign is still in its infant stage, Jokic’s ambitions are sky high. More than anything, he refuses to subscribe to the reasoning that title-contending teams need to be packed with superstars.
“Look at Dirk (Nowitzki) with Dallas (in 2011),” Jokic said. “They didn’t have a super team, they had a really good team. The team is always bigger than an individual or whatever, and a really good team can win a championship.”
The Nuggets narrowly missed out on the playoffs last season, primarily due to a defense that struggled for effectiveness when it mattered. That part of their game has improved dramatically so far, enough for Jokic to see serious potential in his group.
“Championship, of course,” he replied without hesitation when asked what the potential was for Denver over the next eight months. “I think we have the players to do that, we have a coach to do that. We are ready, we are growing, we are getting better and better in every (way). So why not?”
The “why not” has more to do with the loaded Western Conference than anything else, but already Jokic and his teammates have sent a signal of intent. The opening surge of victories included a thrilling home win against the Warriors on Sunday and as of Thursday afternoon, they were one of only two undefeated teams in the West.
Jokic will be key to whatever success Denver continues to have. He was rewarded with a max contract last summer and appears to be firmly on track to blossom into genuine superstardom, albeit while retaining a distinctly non-superstar humility that has delighted head coach Michael Malone.
“Nikola endeared himself to his teammates right away,” Malone said. “He is very goofy, funny, he has no problem being the butt of his own jokes and our players love that about him.
“Despite the triple-doubles and the max contract, that hasn’t changed. Nikola is still who Nikola is. He is a simple guy, he is not caught up into all the NBA lifestyle.”
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